Flashlight



Dec. 24, wi v I 2,225,936

FLASHL-IGH'I' Filed June 13-, 1958 F EL P I 1 5- M71122;

Patented Dec. 24, 1940 UNITED, STATES, PATENT OFFICE FLASHLIGHT Robert G. Williams, Toledo, hlc,=assignor to Fulton Manufacturing Corporation, Wauseon, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 13, 1938, Serial No. 213,432 4 Claims. (o 240-10458) An object of the invention is to provide aflashlight construction wherein the energization of the lamp bulb is obtained by causing relative rotary movement between the flashlight housing and a member rotatably carried by said housing.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved circuit controlling means including a rotatlve camming element which separates contacting elementsforming part of the-electrical connections between light bulb filament with a 20 current source thereby controlling the energization of the lamp bulb.

Another object of the invention is to provide v a camming element rotatably carried by the 25 housing rear end adapted to move a conducting member out of engagement with the flashlight housing thereby controlling the opening and closing of the electrical circuit which connects the lamp bulb filament with the current source.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a flashlight having a plurality of circuit controlling means whereby accidental energization of the lamp bulb is avoided.

Another object of the invention is the provision 35 of a unitary switch construction which can be incorporated in flashlights already in use to provide effective lamp controlling means. I

Further objects and advantages are within the scope of this inventionsuch as relate to the aro rangement, operation and function of the related elements of the structure, to-various details of construction and to combinations of parts elements per se. and to economies of manufacture and numerous other features as will be apparent from a consideration of the specification and drawing of a form of the invention in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view with a portion of the housing removed showing the arrangement of the component partsof the flashlight;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 22 of Figure 1, illustrating the circuit controlling means in closed position;

Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure 2 illustrating the circuit controlling means in open position; 65 Figure 4 is an isometric view of the rotary camming element forming part of the circuit controlling means;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail view of the movable circuit contacting element of the circuit controlling means.

- Figure '7 is an enlarged detail view of the relatively stationary contact element which is adapted to be engaged by the movable contacting element illustrated in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of a flashlight incorporating a modified form of circuit controlling means of the invention;

Figure 9 is a detail sectional view of a unitary type of circuit controlling means adapted. to be secured to a flashlight housing.

I have illustrated the invention as embodied in a small flashlight using a dry cell as thesource of current but it is to be understood that I contemplate its use whenever the same is found to be applicable. 11-. is understood that I donot wish to limit the invention to the form shown but that the same is used for illustration purposes only.

The invention in one of its general aspects includes a flashlight construction in which the housing is formed or provided with conducting means which resiliently carry a dry cell urging the same into contact with a terminal of the lamp bulb held in fixed relation by a translucent head carried by the housing. The resilient means and dry cell being suitably insulated from the conducting means of the housing-and being in turn connected to a relatively stationary contact member also insulated therefrom. The conducting means of the housing are provided with a mov-. able contact member adapted to be cammed into and out of engagement with the stationary contact by movable means mounted on said housing.

The translucent head being movable with respect to the housing and carrying a conducting element acting as a connection between a lamp bulb terminal and the conducting mean's of the housing. The camming means being rotatably carried by the housing and interposed between the stationary contact connected to the dry cell and. the movable contact connected to the housing conducting means whereby the energization of the lamp'bulb fllament is controlled by rotary or oscillatory movement, of the camming means with respect to the housing.

Referring to the drawing illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention. the flashlight comprises a housing 10 made of current conducting material or being provided with current conducting means and is preferably of tubular configuration of suitable internal diameter to receive and enclose a suitable source of current such as a dry cell II and having a threaded end portion I2. Co-acting with the threaded portion I2 is a removable closure or light emitting head I4 prefer ably or light transmitting material of frustroconical configuration having a central bore I5 terminating into a constricted opening l8 at its forward portion. The diameter of the constricted aperture or opening I6 of the closure I4 is such as to prevent the passage of glass envelope of the lamp bulb I8 and coacts to retain the same in proper central position therein.

The lamp bulb I8 carries at its base a metallic ring like member I9 connected to and forming a terminal of .the filament 20. The metallic member I9 is forcibly en raged by the end portion 2I of a resilient member 22 which passes through the wall of tile closure I4 and has a bent portion 23. adapted to contact with end surface or edge portion I3 of the housing I0 so as to provide means for connecting one terminal of the filament with the housing I0 through the medium of the resilient member-22. The other terminal of filament 28 is connected to a metallic member or; contact 24 carried on the base of the lamp bulb I8. The filament contact 24 being forcibly engaged by central terminal 26 of the dry cell I I by the action of the resilient member or spring 28 exerting pressure on the dry cell. The compression spring 28 is interposed between the dry cell base and an insulating disc like member 30' and is connected by means of a stud or conducting member 32 passing therethrough to a cup-like member 34 iorming-the relatively stationary contact of the circuit controlling means which cause the energization of filament 20 of the lamp bulb I8.

The rear end of the housing III is provided with an inwardly turned flange 38 against which 'the disc like member 30 rests and to which is suitably secured a metallic ring or conducting member 38 formed with an opening 40 adapted to receive and permit the passage of the bent portion 42 of a resilient member or flat spring 44 which is suitably secured as at 45 to the inner surface of the ring-like member 38. The bent portion 42 of the flat spring 'member'44 constitutes a relatively movable contact element of the circuit controlling means which produces energization of the lamp bulb.

Positioned at the rear end of the housing I 8 adjacent to the flan e 36 is a rotatably mounted member or sleeve 48 preferably made of nonconducting material having a portion 49 embracing the stationary contact 34 and formed with an inwardly projecting annular portion 50 interposed between the flange 38 and the end of the cup-shaped element 34. The inner wall surface 5| of the annular projection 50 is adapted to contact with the outer surface of the rinalike member 38 and is formed with a recess 82 and an indentation 54. The recess 82 has the proper configuration and depth in order to receive the bent portion 42, and permits, when the recess is in registration therewith. the bent portion 42 to automatically move into engagement with the inner surface of the stationary contact 34 closing the lamp filament circuit, as is'particularly shown in Figure 2. However, when member 48 is in a position where such registration does not take place. as illustrated in Figure 3, the inner wall SI of the flange 50 contacts with the bent portion 42 flexing the spring 44 moving the contacting portion 42 out of engagement with the relatively stationary contact 34, thus opening the circuit of the lamp filament. It should be noted that when member 48 is rotated so that the indentation 54 engages the contacting portion 42, an audible noise or click is produced indicating to the user that the circuit closing elements are out of engagement. Theindentation 54 serves as means whereby the circuit controlling means are locked in open position, preventing that the circuit of the lamp filament may close accidentally.

It can be seen from the foregoing description that oscillatory. or rotary movement between the housing I0 and the sleeve 48 causes the engagement or dis-engagement of the movable contact 42 with the stationary contact 34 to open or close a circuit for the flow of current from the dry cell to the lamp bulb filament 20 to cause the emission of light through the translucent head and opening I8 producing a direct beam of light surrounded at its source by a corona of diffused light, the intensity of which is dependent upon the degree of translucence of the head u.

Figures 8 and 9 illustrate a modification of the invention in which the circuit controlling means forms a unitary sub-assembly illustrating a manner of retaining the same in position in a flashlight housing. In the form of the invention illustrated in these figures, the housing In instead of being formed with an inwardly depending flange, terminates into an open end 80 having an internal diameter adapted to snugly receive tubular member 62 of the switch controlling means. The tubular" member 62 is retained in the housing III by tight fitting engagement with the inner wall surface of the housing or by other suitable securing means such as soldering. The tubular member 82 is made of Located within the tubular member 62 and resting against the flange 84 is a disk-like member 68 of insulating material of suitable diameter to be snugly held therein. The member 66 corresponds to and performs the same functions as the disk-like member 30 disclosed in the other form of the invention. The remaining component elements of the circuit controlling means illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 being substantially similar in arrangement to those hereinbefore disclosed in connection with the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 7 inclusive.

It is also sought by this invention that the flow of current to cause the emission of light by the energization of the lamp bulb filament 20 can be controlled by relative movement of the closure I4 with respect to the housing III. This movement can be accomplished due to the threaded connection between the housing and closure and by resiliently mounting the dry cell II therein. The user of the flashlight by this arrangement will entirely prevent'the accidental energization of the lamp bulb filament as the turning of the closure I4 with respect to the housing IIIwill cause the dis-engagement of the end wall I3 with the bent portion 23 of the conducting member 22 opening the connection between the housing l0 and the lamp bulb terminal l9 thus rendering the-circuit of the lamp bulb filament 20 ineflfective.

It is apparent that, within the scope of the invention, modifications and difi'erent' arrangements may be made other than is herein disclosed, and the present disclosure is illustrative merely, the invention comprehending all variations thereof.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, a flashlight housing; current conducting means in said housing; a relatively stationary contacting surface insulatingly supported from said current conducting means; a resilient current conducting band carried by said housing in spaced relation to said stationary contacting surface said band being connected at one end to said housing conducting means and having a portion of its free section inherently urged toward engagement with said relatively stationary contacting surface; a rotatable member of ring-like configuration carried by said housing accessiblefrom the exterior thereof; an inwardly extending flange of non-conducting ma-- terial formed on said rotatable member. in engagement with the free section of said resilient band for holding the same out of engagement with the relatively stationary contacting surface; a recess formed on said flange whereby when said rotatable member is moved to a position where the free section of said resilient band is in registration with said recess the same automatically engages the relatively stationary surface.

2 In combination, a tubular housing provided with current conducting means and having open ends; a source of current supported in said housing insulated from said current conductin means; a lamp bulb filament carried by one end of said housing having one of its terminals connected to said housing conducting means and having its other terminal contacting with a terminal of said current source; a pair of relatively movable contacting surfaces located at the other end of said housing between the other terminal of said source and the housing conducting means; one of said contacting surfaces being connected to a terminal of said source; the other contacting surface having a connection with said housing conducting means and being resilient and inherently urged toward contact making position with the other contacting surface; a rotatable ring-like member of insulating material carried by said housing; a flange projecting from said member between said contacting surfaces for holding them out of engagement;.a recess formed on said flange whereby when said rotatable member is moved to cause the registration of said ing conducting means to said lamp bulb filament.

3. In combination, a flashlight housing of current conducting material provided at one endwith a cylindrical section; a disc of insulating material in said housing positioned adjacent to its cylindrical end section; a relatively-stationary currentconducting member having a cylindrical section extending parallel with but spaced from the cylindrical section of said housing; current conducting means in engagement with said current conducting member carried by said insulat ing disc for fixedly holding its cylindrical section in spaced relation from said housing; a resilient current conducting band having one end secured to one of said cylindrical sections and a projecting portion inherently urged towards engagement with the cylindrical section of said stationary contacting member; an annular movable member of insulating material surrounding the cylindrical section of said housing having a portion in engagement with the projecting portion of said resilient band; a recess formed on the surface portion of the annular member which is in engagement with the projecting portion of said resilient band whereby movement of the member to cause registration of said recess with the projecting.

portion on said current conducting band establishes a circuit between said cylindrical sections through said current conducting'band.

4. In combination, a current conducting flashlight housing provided at one end with a tubular portion of reduced "diameter; a disc of insulating material in said housing; a relatively stationary current conducting member having a cup- .shaped. configuration provided with a cylindrical the flange of said sleeve whereby registration ofv the notch in the flange-of said sleeve with the projecting section on said current conducting band establishes a current path between said cylindrical sections through said curren't con-,

ducting band. I

ROBERT G. WILLIAMS. 

